Forster met McLennan during drama classes at the University of Queensland and, inspired by a mutual love of Bob Dylan and the New York music scene, they formed the Go-Betweens in 1977. In addition to his work with the Go-Betweens, Forster has released several solo albums, including: Danger in the Past, recorded in Berlin in 1990; Calling from a Country Phone, recorded at Sunshine Studios, Brisbane, in 1993 with members of local pop group Custard; I Had a New York Girlfriend, a collection of cover versions recorded in Melbourne in 1994; Warm Nights, recorded in London in 1996 and produced by Edwyn Collins; and The Evangelist, recorded (all but one track - "A Place to Hide Away") at Good Luck Studios, London, September - November 2007 with long time collaborators Glenn Thompson and Adele Pickvance.
Critically-acclaimed internationally as a songwriter, Forster reveals a strong literary influence in his work. In 2005, Forster began writing for the Australian magazine, The Monthly. Prior to this he had virtually no print experience, with only a column on hair care for a fanzine in the 1980s to his credit. On 25 October 2006, it was announced that Forster was the winner of the Pascall Prize for Critical Writing for his columns.
On 6 May 2006, Grant McLennan died in his sleep at his home in Brisbane. Forster picked three songs co-written by Grant McLennan, including "Demon Days", which is the last song the pair wrote together, and recorded them alongside some of his own material to produce his first album in 11 years. The Evangelist was released on April 26, 2008 through Yep Roc Records.[5]
Forster announced his return to live performance with four nights at the Queensland Music Festival in July 2007.
Alone
Robert Forster Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm lying here, the room's pitch dark
I wonder where you are tonight
No answer on the telephone
And the night goes by so very slow
Oh, I hope that it won't end though
Alone
'Til now, I always got by on my own
I never really cared until I met you
And now it chills me to the bone
How do I get you alone
How do I get you alone
You don't know how long I have wanted
To touch your lips and hold you tight
Oh, you don't know how long I have waited
And I was gonna tell you tonight
But the secret is still my own
And my love for you is still unknown
Alone
Oh
'Til now, I always got by on my own
I never really cared until I met you
And now it chills me to the bone
How do I get you alone
How do I get you alone
How do I get you alone
How do I get you alone
Alone
Alone
In "Alone" by Robert Forster, the singer is lying in a dark room, feeling lonely and thinking about the person they miss. They wonder where this person is, as they can't get in touch with them. The ticking of the clock in the background accentuates the slow and lonely passage of time. The singer reflects on how they never cared about being alone before meeting this person, but now they can't stand the idea of being without them. They express their desire to touch the person's lips and hold them tightly, but the secret of their love for this person remains undiscovered.
The lyrics evoke a sense of longing, desire, and loneliness. The singer paints a picture of the emptiness they feel when the person they love is not around. The lyrics are relatable, as everyone has experienced moments of loneliness and missing someone. The song is delivered in a melancholic tone, which adds to the sad overtones of the lyrics.
Overall, "Alone" is a poignant and emotional song that captures the essence of unrequited love, loneliness and desire.
Line by Line Meaning
I hear the ticking of the clock
I am alone in my room, and I can hear the sound of the clock ticking.
I'm lying here, the room's pitch dark
I am lying in the dark room, feeling helpless and alone.
I wonder where you are tonight
I am worried and anxious about your whereabouts tonight.
No answer on the telephone
I have tried calling you, but you are not answering my calls.
And the night goes by so very slow
The night feels like it is passing slowly without you by my side.
Oh, I hope that it won't end though
I wish this feeling of being with you won't end even when you are not here.
'Til now, I always got by on my own
Before I met you, I was comfortable being alone and fending for myself.
I never really cared until I met you
After meeting you, I realized what it truly means to care for someone.
And now it chills me to the bone
The thought of losing you sends shivers down my spine.
How do I get you alone
I am desperate to have you by my side and spend some time with you.
You don't know how long I have wanted
I have been waiting to be with you for a long time now.
To touch your lips and hold you tight
I yearn to kiss you and embrace you closely.
Oh, you don't know how long I have waited
I have waited for too long to express my feelings to you.
And I was gonna tell you tonight
I had planned to confess my love to you tonight.
But the secret is still my own
I am still keeping my feelings for you a secret.
And my love for you is still unknown
You have no idea how deep my love for you runs.
How do I get you alone
I am desperately looking for a way to be alone with you.
Alone
I am alone and sad without you.
Contributed by Christopher C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Kevin James
Great interpretation ! Almost gave me a tear, the song is so powerful , even with " tuney" vocals , the starkness of it made the feeling very real
Deus Vult
Ultimate in melancholy.